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The Home of the Guardian Angel is an approved child placment agency through the Department of Community Services with a special emphasis on voluntary infant adoptions.  The process of adoption at the Home of the Guardian Angel is a lengthy one, but one that is designed to provide single persons and couples with education and preparation for the lifelong task of adoptive parenthood.

The length of wait time to adopt depends entirely on the number and needs of children available for adoption.  It is reasonable to expect to wait three to five years and possibly longer from the date of registration.  The time frame may be shortened based on the needs of children to be placed.

Requirement for Adoption at the Home of the Guardian Angel

1. May be a single person or a couple
2. A Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident
3. Must be 19 years of age or over
4.  

The Adoption Process

Those interested in applying to adopt through the Home of the Guardian Angel should call and speak with an adoptions specialist (social worker) at the agency to obtain basic information to determine eligibility, motivation to adopt, and the preferred age range of the child to be adopted. The social worker will direct the inquirer to a questionnaire and the Community Services "training and information session" which is the initial step to getting registered. The questionnaire assists the Home in determining the ability of the person(s) to meet a child’s needs.

Once training is completed and the questionnaire completed and returned to us, a social worker will contact you and explain the family assessment (home study) process.

Essentially, this consists of:
a)Paperwork sent to pereson(s) to be completed
b)Interviews with social worker – usually 5 - 6 meetings
c)Home visit - 1 interview in home
d)Approval process - application and family assessment (home study) reviewed by selection committee (social work staff)
e)The prospective adoptive person(s) is/are asked to write a non-identifying letter of introduction to be provided to birth parents to assist them in choosing families.

Generally, expectant parents who contact the Home of the Guardian Angel and who are considering an adoption plan for their child are doing so voluntarily. Through their pregnancy options counseling, they are encouraged to take an active role in the selection of adoptive parents for their child.

There are many factors that birth parents take into consideration when selecting an adoptive family which may include but are not limited to: age, race, rural or urban dwelling, other children in the home, religion, one or two parent families and so on.

While You Are Waiting

Placement - this could occur within the first year following approval or take several years. Unfortunately there are no guarantees as to when a placement will occur. You are eligible for selection by children in the province’s care and other child placement agencies while on the Home list.

The Home of the Guardian Angel believes that adoption is different from having children born in the family. We suggest using the waiting time to learn more about adoption.  There are many excellent books available at the public library or in our own resource library.  A reading list is available.

Adoption

There is a 17-day waiting period between the child's birth and earliest possible time of placement for adoption. Usually the child spends a day or two at the hospital and is then placed with a foster family. These are families trained and approved by the Department of Community Services to provide this care.

Selection

Birth parents can select adoptive parents prior to or following the birth of their child. Birth parents are usually given a minimum of three letters of introduction from prospective adoptive families to preview. If more information is needed, birth parents are invited to meet with the adoptive parents' social worker who will provide the additional information required.

The adoptive parents generally only receive 24 - 48 hours notice of the placement. Special circumstances may warrant an earlier meeting. The adoptive parents are advised of the birth parents' desire for them to parent their child and are verbally provided a non-identifying social/medical history of the child and his or her birth parents. If both the adopting family and birth parents feel comfortable, birth parents meet the chosen adoptive parents the day before or on day 17. This face to face meeting is usually 1 to 1.5 hours in length and is held at the Home of the Guardian Angel.  The communication agreement is finalized at this time.

Placement Day

When the birth parent(s) have signed adoption consents and the adoptive parents have signed their paperwork, including the Notice of Proposed Adoption, the child is placed with the adoptive family. At that time, the adoptive family will receive a copy of the child’s completed non-identifying background history. The child is discharged to the adoptive parents' care, but the agency remains legally responsible for the child until the adoption is finalized.

Follow Up

The adoption social worker will have approximately four home visits with the child in the adoptive parents' home prior to recommending the finalization of the adoption to the Minister of the Department of Community Services. Finalization cannot occur until the child has been in the adoptive home for 6 months. After the 6 month finalization report has been completed and if the adoption is recommended, the case will proceed to the Family Court (usually between the 9th and 12th month). The adoptive family is responsible for securing a lawyer and ensuring that the adoption is finalized in court. A copy of the signed Adoption Order will be forwarded to the parents.